In this episode of Good News for a Change, Fr. Constantine Lazarakis shares thoughts on the epistle reading for the Sunday of July 12, Romans 12:6-14. He reflects on what it means that God has given us “gifts that differ, according to the Grace that is given to us.” There are gifts such as prophecy, teaching, even just time to donate, or indeed money to support the ministry of the Church if we have been so blessed. We have a responsibility to reflect on what gifts we have been given so that we may offer them back to God. So often, when asked to serve, we respond that we simply don’t have time. And indeed we do have many other things that press upon our lives. But we must also budget time and talent to our eternal destiny.

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Father Constantine Lazarakis, born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Studies from Hellenic College and Master of Arts degree in Divinity from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. Prior to attending seminary, he worked in a group home for developmentally disabled adults and adolescents, as a special education teacher’s assistant, developing and implementing learning plans for junior high school students with a variety of developmental disabilities and behavioral problems. He also worked for his father’s residential painting company.
Father Lazarakis served as the Ionian Village director from 2001 until 2008, during which time he developed and implemented program curriculum which included catechetical, Greek language and culture, arts and crafts, and athletic spheres. As Ionian Village director, he also recruited, trained and managed a volunteer staff of thirty to forty members each summer. While serving at Ionian Village, Father Constantine also served as interim director of youth and young adult ministries for the Direct Archdiocesan District from 2008 to 2010, where he worked with the District youth ministry team to establish Camp St. Paul, the summer camp program of the Greek Orthodox Direct Archdiocesan District. He has also served in a variety of positions at summer camps and youth programs in the metropolises of Boston and Denver.
Father Constantine was assigned as parish priest to the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church of Southampton, NY in August of 2010.
Father Constantine enjoys writing short fiction, poetry, and personal essays. He and his wife Anastasia Karloutsos-Lazarakis, live in Southampton with their three children, Konstantine, Xanthi and Demetrios.

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